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J. M. DODGE.

Chain. No. 234,548. Patented Nov, 16, I880.

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JAMES M. DODGE, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,548, dated November 16, 1880.

Application filed May 10, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES MAPES Donen, of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to that kind'of chain which is composed of bars running lengthwise of the chain, arranged alternately singly and in pairs, and articulated or hinged together, so that the parts may turn in a plane transverse to the plane in which the pairs of bars are arranged, in the manner and for purposes well known to those skilled in the art. of'making chains and familiar with their uses.

My invention has for its object to greatly improve this kind of chains for many uses, and to adapt them to many new uses, by constructing such chains with a capacity for a designed separation, when turned in given relative positions, of any two of the articulated or jointed parts of the chain.

To this end and object my invention consists in providing the bars composing the double links, where they laterally em brace the bars of the single links, with means or devices adapted to embrace lateral projections of the single links, arranged near the ends of the latter in such manner as to prevent the withdrawal of the parts from each other in any di-' rection in which they can possiblymove while the chain is in a working condition, and yet in such manner that by turning any two of the hinged parts into a peculiar and unusual relative position they may be separated, for the purposes, among others, of lengthening and shortening the chain, or removing and replacing broken or worn-out parts, 850., all as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to more fully explain the construction and operation of a chain embodying my improvement, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which I have shown several forms of or modes of carrying out my said invention.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and at are respectively a face (Model) view, side view, longitudinal central section, and cross-section of a chain embracing my invention. Fig. 5 is apartial longitudinal section, showing more particularly 110w the links may be taken apart or uncoupled; and Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view, showing a modified form of chain in which a somewhat different manipulation of the parts is necessary in the uncoupling operation. At Figs. 7, S, 9, and 10 I have shown, respectively in top or face view, side view, longitudinal vertical section, and longitudinal horizontal section, a modified form of my invention, while at Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 I have shown by a similar set of Views another modification of my improved chain; and at Figs. 15, 16, and 17, by a top view, side view, and vertical longitudinal section, I have shown still another modification of my invention.

In the several figures of each of the forms of chain shown the same parts will be found designated by the same letter of reference.

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, A A represent the double-bar links, and B B the single-bar links. The single links are in this case shown as being of cast malleable iron of the form clearly illustrated, and are made with lateral projections G at or near each end, that are adapted to engage, in a manner to be presently explained, with certain projections on and the connecting-rivets of the two bars of the double links, while the latter are composed, as shown, of two bars or castings, a a, of the form shown, each of which has an inwardlyprojecting rim or flange-like device, D, at each end.

E are the rivets by means of which the bars or castings a a of each double link are permanently united, and which are also utilized (in preference to the use of some auxiliary device for that purpose) for retaining the projections G in place within or in. a bearing condition against the projections D of the bars of the double links.

The bearing projections O of the single links, it will be seen, are each in form substantially like one-half of a short cylindrical tube, while the projections D of the double links are also semi-tubular in shape, but having the curvature of their interior surfaces about in conformity to the curvature of the exteriors of the devices D, and the rivets E are of about a sufficient diameter to fill the semicircular concav'ity of the projections C.

By preference the side pieces or plates, at, of the double links are formed with a rimlike flange pro ecting from their outer surfaces, to render said plates as strongas possible with a minimum amount of stock but the form of these and other parts is not, of course, material so long as the chain embraces the principle of construction of my invention. The single links should, of course, be stronger than each of the side bars, a a, of the double links, since each single link has to withstand the same strain to which the two bars a a of each double link are subjected in the aggro; gate.

In a chain made as shown in these figures, and as just described, the single and double links will be free, it will be seen, to articulate or turn about axes of motion about coincident with the axes of the rivets or riveting-studs l) to an extent more than sufficient for any purposes for which such chain may be used, without any liability, or even possibility, of any separation of the jointed or articulated parts. At the same time, if it be desired for any purpose to separate the parts of the chain at any one of its articulate points, such separation may be readily effected by turning the parts adjacent to the joint at which it is desired to uncouple into a relative position, such as seen at Fig. 5, for when turned into this position the coupled links may be separated by moving them apart in the manner and direction indicated by the dotted lines at said figure. As it is in this position only of the parts (or in a similar one, except as to the link B being turned to the same angle with the link A in an opposite direction) that any separation can occur, and as this position can never be assumed by the chain in a working condition, it follows that, while the parts may be designedly uncoupled in themanner shown and described, there is no liability of any casual separation of the links while the chain is in a working condition.

it will be observed that, while any practical application of the chain of which such chains are capable would not require the turning of the links on their hinges to a greater extent than a half-circle sweep, the links ofthe chain shown may have any two links turned relatively through an are about equal to threequarters of a circle before the parts can as same a relation in which the uncoupling will be possible.

it will be understood that in the pulling strain to which the chain is subjected the bearin g between the jointed parts occurs where the exterior semi-cylindrical surfaces of the projections O of the single links eomeinto contact with the internal similarly-shaped sur-' faces of the projections D of the double links, and that in any and all relative movementsof whole frictional wear will come on these surfaces of contact; and since these surfaces can necessarily be of greater extent than it would be possible to make any pivotal stud or pintle passing through the bars a a, it follows that the form of articulating devices shown is much stronger or more durable than those heretofore usually employed in the class of chain to which my invention relates.

The rivets or side-barsecnrement studs E serve also, it will be seen, to keep the projection devices (J up to their working positions within the socket-like devices D, or, in other words, prevent the devices 0 and the links carrying them from backing out of their bearings when the chain is slack. As, however, these studs E have to perform only this func tion and that of tying together the bars a a, they need not be made very strong nor large, and hence the side bars, a eyneed not be materially weakened by the holes necessary for the accommodation of these rivets or studs.

in lieu of having the single links shaped and relatively arranged in the manner shown and just described, each of the semi-cylindrical hollow projections C may have its edges extended in, a substantially straight direction somewhat farther, as seen at Fig. 6, in which case the separation of the parts cannot be effected in precisely the manner shown at Fig. 5, but can only be uncoupled by the relative movement of three adjacent links into the po sition shown. at Fig. (5.

At Figs. 7, S, 9, and 10, the chain shown, though of another form, embraces the same principle of operation described as being peculiar to my invention, as illustrated in the preceding figures; and the same is trueof the other forms of chain shown in the succeeding figures of the drawings.

In Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the supplemental feature of the projections f is added to the side bars, a co, of the double links, to perform the function of holding or keeping the. projections G of the single links up totheir hearing with the projections D, leaving the rivets or studs E, in such case, to perform only the function of uniting the bars ac to form the double link.

jcally to the curved bearing-surfaces 0f the devices (J, and serve to come, against the exterior of the curved projections D of the double links, to prevent the backing out, so to speak,

0f the devices 0 from their bearing in D, thus leaving the studs .13 (as in the last preceding mentioned form of link) to perform only the function of uniting the barsa a of the double link.

In Figs. 15 to 17 the articulate or joint p0r-.

tions of the chain are about similar to those of the links (about their axes of articulation) the the first-described chain, but each link has. one

single and one double end, so that the chain is composed of duplicate links. In other words, the chain, instead of being composed, as in the other described cases, of alternate double and single links, each double link containing two female members and each single link two male members of the devices by means of which the joints or articulations of the parts are created, is made up, of duplicate hermaphrodite parts, each link having a male member of a coupling at one end and a female member at the other end.

Of course the modifications of form in the links to which my invention is subject may be very numerous, and in any one of its numerous forms my invention may be applied to chains having the links multiplied widthwise of the chain, in the manner common to chains of the class to which my invention relates, whenever it is desirable to increase the width of the chain.

Having now so fully described the nature of my invention and the best modes of carrying it out now known to me that those skilled in the art can fully understand and practice it, and wishing it to be understood that I do not limit my claim of invention to any particular form or proportions of either the links, respectively, or the chain, so long as they embrace the novel principles of construction and operation shown and described,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a chain formed of articulated bars running in the direction of its length and arranged alternately singly and doubly, substantially as set forth, articulations composed of curved lateral projections located at or in the vicinities of the ends of the links, the projections composing each articulate joint constituting male and female membersof such joint, and being capable of separation only When the articulated parts of the chain are turned in a relative position such as they cannot assume during the working of the chain.

2. In a chain composed of links or bars running in the direction of the length of the chain, and alternately single and double, a link formed during a portion of its length of two and during the rest of its length of one of such bars, and having its double and single ends provided, respectively, with curved projections, substantially such as described, constitutin g, respectively, female and male members of an articulate joint, the members of which .can be separated only when the parts of the chain are turned out of their working relative positions.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of April, 1880.

ALBERT M. DAY, BURROWS M. SAUNDERS. 

